Bear cub spotted near Rockton

Thursday

Jul 3, 2014 at 8:51 AMJul 3, 2014 at 8:51 AM

ROCKTON — Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department deputies were unable to confirm the reported sighting of a bear cub in a rural area near Rockton.

A man called police at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to report that he had seen a small black bear that appeared to be cub near his backyard pool at his farm house on Bates Road. By the time deputies arrived, the bear had fled to a heavily wooded area and no tracks could be found.

If you spot a bear, you are asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at 815-319-6300. Unless it is endangering someone, police do not plan to intervene and would only kill it as a last resort.

Anyone confronted by a bear should not run, but instead back slowly away. Officials say that bears are usually just as eager as people to end such an encounter and will likely run away.